PhD Studentship Health Economics Research Group (HERG) │ Brunel University Funding is available for a full-time PhD studentship in the Health Economics Research Group (HERG) at Brunel University. brunel.ac.uk/herg/phd-opportunities/phd-studentship Topics The successful applicant will study one of the following topics (see below for details): 1) Independence, substitution and complementary effects of lifestyle choices 2) Measuring the outcomes of genetic risk information for economic evaluation 3) External validity of willingness to pay in valuing the benefits of health interventions 4) Economic evidence underlying national clinical guidance and health policy in England Funding The studentship is for a fixed period of three years, subject to satisfactory progress at annual review. It will cover payment of tuition fees (at international or UK/EU rates) plus an annual stipend at the Research Councils UK rate for London (£15,863 for 2014-15). Admission criteria • MSc in relevant topic (e.g. economics or health economics) • UK first or second class honours degree or international equivalent. • An appropriate level of English Language competence. Applications from candidates without formal qualifications will be considered on an individual basis and all aspects of the application will be taken into account. How to apply Applications should be made by Friday 2nd May 2014 through the University website, see brunel.ac.uk/courses/pg/how-to-apply/research-degrees Two key elements of your application are: • The Personal Statement, which should provide a brief explanation (1-2 sides of A4) of why you want to pursue a research degree and why you are applying to HERG in particular; • The Research Proposal, up to 1000 words. State which one of the above topics you would like to study. Briefly summarise why this question is important, what evidence is already available on the topic, and suggest possible sources of data and methods of analysis that you could use to address the question. Applicants who are shortlisted will be invited for an interview on 13 May, or where this is not practicable, will be interviewed by phone. For further information, please contact the named topic supervisors or Joanne Lord ([email protected] , +44(0) 1895 267395). Topic 1: Independence, substitution and complementary effects of lifestyle choices Supervisors: Nana Anokye; Julia Fox-Rushby There is a notable paucity of research on the relationship between physical activity and diet that has been influenced or led by economics. An economic perspective is important in understanding the joint production nature of health interventions that simultaneously tackle more than one risk behaviour. Examining the interrelationship between diet and physical activity may, however, require further thought beyond economic theory, because the dynamics of the interaction may be a function of motivational factors (e.g. emanating from cognitive discord) as well as economic factors (e.g. prices). The aim of this PhD is to explore how and why people make choices over physical activity and (un)healthy eating. Are physical activity and diet independent? If not, what is the nature of the interrelationship? Potential methods include a qualitative study to improve the theoretical framework for understanding behaviour and to generate testable hypotheses. Quantitative analysis is expected to require linkage of multiple datasets, given the lack of a single dataset including relevant economic factors (i.e. prices), and indicators of physical activity and diet. Back Topic 2: Measuring the outcomes of genetic risk information for economic evaluation Supervisors: Louise Longworth Methods for characterising our genetic make-up have advanced rapidly over recent years and are likely to continue expanding in the future. The availability of genetic information has the potential to substantially impact on people’s lives, and these impacts may be positive or negative. Positive impacts may include facilitating the targeted treatment of people who may benefit the most from treatment, enabling early or prophylactic treatments to be initiated in appropriate populations, encouragement of behaviour change, the provision of information to inform life planning decisions and resolving uncertainty about genetic status. Negative impacts can include anxiety about living with a risk of illness, anxiety or confusion about the nature of the ‘risk’ or disease and impacts on family and social relationships. Standard methods for measuring health outcomes may not be adequate to quantify and value the impact of increased knowledge of our genetic information. It is important that appropriate methods are available to measure and value the provision of genetic information in order to evaluate the benefits of related genetic services and technologies – such as genetic testing, genetic counselling and other support services. The aim of this PhD will be to investigate methods for measuring and valuing genetic risk information for use in economic evaluation. Back Topic 3: External validity of willingness to pay in valuing the benefits of health interventions Supervisors: Julia Fox-Rushby; Frauke Becker Stated willingness to pay is being used increasingly to measure of health benefits. Choice modelling techniques allow researchers to estimate the maximum amount that an individual is willing to pay for health improvements, reductions in health risks or non-health benefits of health-producing interventions. A continuing concern is whether stated values placed on hypothetical choices are reflective of actual choices. However, assessment of this ‘external validity’ is very thin, particularly in the health sector. This thesis will build on current research that is investigating external validity in the wider field of economics and examine how issues of external validity may impact on the valuation of health interventions. Further insights into external validity could contribute to health economics in three ways: specifying the degree of concern warranted; evaluating a fuller range of methods for investigation; and providing calibration mechanisms for future studies to improve predictions of actual choice behaviour. Analysis could make use of a number of relevant secondary data sets that are available in HERG. There are also opportunities for new data collection as part of future studies. Back Topic 4: Economic evidence underlying national clinical guidance and health policy in England Supervisors: Joanne Lord; Gemma Derrick; Doug Coyle The establishment of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) and the National Screening Committee (NSC) in 1996 marked an acceleration in investment in and formalisation of methods and processes for economic evaluation of healthcare policies to underpin NHS decision making. The remit of NICE has since expanded from technology appraisal, clinical guidelines and audit, to include evaluation of public health interventions, medical devices and diagnostics, and quality standards. The Department of Health has also responded to cross-government requirements for more formalised Impact Assessment of policy proposals. However, methods and processes of appraisal differ between, and within, decision-making bodies. In addition, the values associated with the evidence supplied, as well as external political and social influences play an active role in determining if, and how, evidence is used. All these differences have the potential to exacerbate inefficiencies and inequalities within the health service. The aim of this PhD will be to investigate the extent and implications of the adoption and use of different rules for cost-effectiveness evidence within a national health service. Methods may include; reviews of policy documents; interviews with key informants; and analysis for case studies.
Posted on: Tue, 08 Apr 2014 16:23:51 +0000
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